Page 102

Maddie shared a knowing smile with Kara. After she and Sam had snuck back into the house and up the back stairs, they had separated, Sam explaining that he had some business with Simon before he and Kara left on their honeymoon. Maddie had quickly showered and come to say goodbye to Kara, and had promptly told her everything, desperately needing to talk to her friend about Sam. Kara was probably one of the few people who understood the Hudson men.
“He never said he loves me. And it’s more like a business proposition than a marriage,” Maddie replied, her heart sinking. The minute they had left the dock, she had felt Sam drawing away, the closeness they had found in each other’s arms receding.
“Maddie, it’s always been pretty obvious that you and Sam had something going, something that never ended for either of you. I can verify that the story about him helping the FBI is true. Simon told me about Sam helping to break up the organization. Simon’s always admired Sam for it. But they did have to be protected for quite a while. I have no doubt that everything Sam said is true,” Kara said softly, thoughtfully. “For all his faults, Sam’s a good man. What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know,” Maddie answered her honestly. “He’s pushing and I need time. Hell, we don’t even know each other anymore. Our relationship was years ago. We were barely adults. So much has happened since then. We’ve both changed.”
“Uh…I can tell you from personal experience that patience isn’t exactly a Hudson virtue,” Kara snickered.
Maddie rolled her eyes. “I discovered that a long time ago.” She waved her hand at the open suitcase. “Speaking of which, you better get packing, girlfriend.”
Kara stood, her eyes soft and warm as she spoke. “Maddie, I doubt that either Sam or Simon could have survived the childhood they had without some collateral damage. Don’t listen to Sam’s bluster; look into his heart.”
“I’m not sure he’ll let me in,” Maddie admitted. “I don’t really understand any of this. Everything is happening so fast.”
Kara folded a pair of jeans and dropped them into the suitcase. “I don’t think so. I don’t think Sam ever got over you. For him, it never ended.”
“I don’t think I did either,” Maddie whispered, knowing what she said was true. Sam may have changed over the years, but he was still…Sam. She had been able to resist him when she thought he had cheated on her, when she had thought she had loved a man who had never existed. Now that she knew he had been trying to protect her, that he had wanted her, stopping herself from falling back into his spider web of sweltering heat and desperate need was nearly impossible.
“Give him a chance. Sam’s always been restless, unhappy. He covers it up well, but he’s miserable,” Kara remarked, her voice pleading. “I want both of you to be happy.”
Maddie sighed. “I’ll try to slow things down so we can get to know each other again.”
Kara snorted. “Good luck with that. When a Hudson male decides he wants, he takes, and Lord help the woman if she protests.”
“You learned to manage Simon,” Maddie reminded her friend teasingly.
“He just lets me think I’m managing him. I’m really not. He pacifies me, but he’s really quite devious,” Kara replied, her voice adoring.
“Do you ever get used to it? Someone wanting you that much?” Maddie asked contemplatively.
“Oh yeah. It’s completely addictive. What woman doesn’t want to know that she’s the center of her man’s world?” Kara responded dreamily. “I went from being alone to being completely ecstatic. I’ll take Simon’s obsession any day compared to a man who doesn’t give a shit. He loves me and his obsession makes me feel safe, protected, wanted. If some of the things he does are a little over the top, I don’t care. It’s actually pretty hot. All that matters is how much we love each other.”
Maddie shuddered, knowing she felt the same way. Sam’s dominant, overprotective attitude was completely hot. She had pretty much felt unwanted her entire life, and Sam’s desperation for her made her totally insane, wanting him in the same unguarded manner. “Maybe that’s what bothers me. I could get addicted to him so easily.”
Kara laughed and winked as she closed her suitcase. “Then get addicted. Wallow in it. I doubt he’s going to stop. Stubbornness is another Hudson trait. Once they decide they want, they don’t stop even after they get it.”
Maddie didn’t tell Kara she had already had a taste of that seductive wanting. “I’m going to miss you.” She hugged Kara tightly. “Have fun.”
Simon and Kara were going on a three-week tour of the UK and Europe for their honeymoon, and Maddie was happy for Kara. Her friend hadn’t had a very easy life and Kara deserved the best.
“I’ll call you,” Kara said emphatically as she hugged Maddie back. “I won’t be able to stand this cliffhanger. I’ll need to know what’s happening.”
“I think I’ll have to figure out what’s happening myself before I can tell you anything,” Maddie said laughingly as she released her friend.
Kara put her hands on her hips, shooting Maddie a disapproving look. “At least take him up on funding the clinic. You know you want to.”
Unfortunately, Maddie knew she wanted to take Sam up on the entire deal. She just wasn’t sure her heart would survive it.
“If you want her, marry her.”
Sam stared at his brother, Simon, wishing it were just that easy. “I am marrying her. I already told her that.”
“Uh…did you actually ask her?” Simon inquired uneasily.
“Nope. I told her she was marrying me. She’s had years to find somebody else and she hasn’t. She’s getting me. At least I won’t treat her like shit and I can give her everything she wants. She’ll get over the fact that she hates me…eventually.”I hope.
When Sam had parted from Maddie upstairs, he had come down to the library and spilled everything to Simon, needing a male opinion.